Archdeacon Paschal

Archdeacon Paschal (fl. 687) was an archdeacon of the Catholic Church who fought against Archpriest Theodore and the future Pope Sergius I over the succession of Pope Conon.

Biography
Paschal was born to a family of Catholic Romans, and in 687 AD he bribed Exarch John II of Ravenna to make him the successor of Pope Conon. However, a large faction gathered around Archpriest Theodore. Pashcal and Theodore's factions engaged in armed combat in the Lateran Palace, so Pope Sergius I stormed the palace and was elected pope. Paschal pretended to support the new pope, but he really attempted to bribe John for military support. John arrived with an army, but realized that Paschal was elected, and Paschal was eventually confined to a monastery on charges of witchcraft.